Portable tower for use in trimming trees



Feb., 2U, 1951 w. R. FLEMxNG, JR

PORTABLE TOWER FOR USE IN TRIMMING TREES 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Dec. l5, 1949 INVENTOR MMM/v RHEM//ve/z/H.

a, JW E E ATTORNEY Feb. 20, E953 w. R. FLEMING, JR

PORTABLE TOWER FOR USE 1N TRIMMINO TREES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Deo.

INVENTOR Wax, MM fz?. R .5M/NG, da.

ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 20, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,542,497 A PORTABLE TOWER FOR Usr.l 1N TRn'vIMING TREES william R. Fleming, Jr., Faireela, 111.`

Application December 13, 1949, Serial No. 132,740 4 claims. (o1. soi-9) have his hands free for the trimming operation,

and at the same time safeguarding the workman against falling. p

A further object is to provide a towerY of the above-mentioned character constructed in telescoping sections, so that the height of the tower may be adjusted.

A further object is to provide a portable tower pivotally mounted upon a truck in such a manner that two or three men may swing the tower from a raised or operative yposition to a lowered or inoperative position, to facilitate the passage of the truck beneath overhead obstacles.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a portable tower of the above-mentioned character which is highly simplied, extremely rigid and strong, compact and relatively inexpen sive to build.

Other objects. and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description. y

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portable tower embodying my invention, and showing the same in a raised or operative position and mounted upon the rear end of a supporting truck;

Figure 2 is a perspectiveview'of the tower in the lowered or inoperative position;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the tower in the lowered position;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the tower raised position;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectiontaken on line 5-5 of Figure 1;

`in the Figure 6 is a similar section taken on line 6 6 Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary verticalsection taken on line 8-8 of Figure 1.

In the drawings, where, for the purpose of illustration, is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral I5 designates a truck upon which my tower is mounted, and including 'a horizontal body or bed I6 rigidly mounted upon the chassis of the truck. The truck also includes a rear, transverse, horizontal member Il which is rigid and strong, and rigidly secured by welding or the like to the rear end ofthe chassis adjacent to the bottom of the body I6.

Rigidly secured to the top of the body I6 adjacent to the rear end thereof and arranged upon opposite sides of the body in transverse alignment are a pair of strong, rigid, upright supports or posts I8 extending above the top of the body I6 and rigidly connected at their tops by a transverse, horizontal, rear bolster or pipe I9, having its opposite ends welded to the tops ofthe posts I8. Forwardly, longitudinally extending, diagonal braces 20 have their tops rigidly secured by welding or the like to the posts I8 near and below the bolster I9, and thek bottoms of the braces 20 are rigidly secured to the top of the truck body I6. Side diagonal braces 2| are also provided, and have 'their tops rigidly secured to the outer sides of the postsl below the bolster I9, and their bottoms rigidly secured to the top of the truck body, as shown. Arranged at the forward end of the body I6 is an upstanding, transverse, forward bridge or bolster 22 having side legs 23 rigidly secured to the truck body, and rigidly mounted upon the bolster 22 near the opposite sides of the same are short, upstanding pipes or supports 24 having substantially semicircular seats or sockets 25 rigidly secured to their top ends and disposed above the tops of the bolsters 22 and I9. Rigidly secured by welding to the top of the krear bolster I9 near opposite ends of such lbolster and arranged in longitudinal alignment with the sockets 25 are a pair of upstanding, bifurcated brackets 26. A generally verticalelongated and slightly rearwardly inclined, oating leg or brace 21 is arranged at the transverse center of the truck body and slightly rearwardly of the rear end of such body. At its lower end, the leg 2Ir has a reduced, vertical extension 28 having a screw-threaded opening 29 formed therein, receiving a screw-threaded stud or bolt 30 rigidly secured therein by a lock nut 3I. `The stud or bolt 3D projects below the bottom end of the extension 28"`and through a vertical opening provided at thejtransverse center of the bumper I'I, Figure 8, and slightly below the bottomof the bumper for receiving a washer 32 and nut 3 3 ywhich may be secured in place by a cotter pin or the like. The top of the brace or leg 21 is bifurcated and disposed at the elevation of the brackets 26 and rearwardly of the brackets and midway between them, for forming a tripod or three-point support for a tower 34, to be described.

The tower 34 proper comprises an upstanding, triangular frame including three equidistantly spaced, vertical, tubular legs 35, 36 and 31, rigidly connected near and above their bottom ends by horizontal bars or braces 38 welded or otherwise rigidly secured thereto. Rigidly mounted within the bottoms of the tubu1ar#legsf 35,36and 31 are heads or blocks 39 having apertured legs 40 pro jecting below the bottoms of the legs, as shown.

The apertured lugs 46 of the legs 35 and-31 'are' pivotally connected with the-brackets 126,yas shown at 4l, while the apertured lug 4 0 ofthe leg 36 is pivotally connected with the bifurcat'ed top end of the floating leg 21, as shown at 42.

' Near and slightly below the-top `ends,the tubular legs 35, 36 and 31 are rigidly connected byy addi- -tional horizontal braces 43 similar'to' the braces uv33. The top'ends of the tubular legs 35,"36and 31 are open. Pairs of crossing, elongated, diagonal braces 44 have theirbottoms rigidly-connected by Welding to the tubular legs-near and above the braces '38, and thetops `offiflie braces 44 are rigidly secured to the tubularlegs'-'near and below' thev braces 43. The pair of'scrossed braces 44 between vthe tubular legs'3i-and 31 have rigidlyv secured'to them vertically spaced, horizontal sections of tubing or pipe 45,-forming -the rounds 'of a laddervfor useV in climbingrand descending: fromthe tower. Y- Thev tower 34 further' comprises an upper, adjustable section 46 including triangularly spaced, elongated, vertical barsor legs 41 telescopically l'engaging wit-hin the tops of the tubularlegs.-,35, "33 and 31.A The legsfore bars 41 are provided-with` vertically spaced, transverse openings-48 receiving transverse bolts 49v extending through` the bars-41 and through openings in the tubularlegs 35, 36 and 31',y wherebycthe upper tower section 4S-may -be bodily adjusted vertically within-the tubular legs 35, -36-'and-31. Abovethe'f-topsof thetubular legs 35;'36- and 31'the'bars or legs41 converge slightly and-extendl-above the Vtops'fof l the tubular legs-fior. a--substantialV distance; such although this diameter may varyf Thef'ba'rs or legs 41 are additionallyrigidly secured.` together at the bottoms of their top converging extensions and adjacent to the tops of the tubular legs 35, 36 and 31, when the upperftower;sectionc46 is at its lowerinost,A adjusted position,byf1neans of horizontal barsor braces -52,-having"bo`ards or planks 53 rigidly mounted thereonandfforrning horizontal platform. f l

The ringV l is smooth and free fromV buris-or rough edges, sothat a workman-standing. upon the platform formed by the boardsf 53 will not have his-clothing or hands damagede A I provide stopvplates-35 rigidly securedl by welding or the like tothe rear Asidesmof the-legs 35 and.'31, adjacent tothe bottomsfofL-thenlegs. These stop plates 35 project below the-bottom ends 'ofthe legs 135 andi-Sl'for-a slight-distance, Figure 6.- The arrangementissuch -thatwhen 4the tnwer raisedto the upright positionfliiigure 1, if for any reason the leg 21 should not be properly connected with the member I1, the stop plates 35 will contact the rear sides of the xed brackets 26 to prevent the tower from falling over backwards.

I also provide sleeves or holders 43 rigidly secured by welding or the like to the braces 44 at the left-hand side of the tower, Figures 1 and 2. These Vsleeves" 413' are f disposed 'near Vfthe longitudinal center of the tower adjacent tothe point of crossing of the braces 44. The bottoms of the sleeves 43' are closed, so that the sleeves may hold -handle extension. o f long-handled pruners, or the sions are removably held in openings or bands 144!"securedbywelding to the adjacent brace 43 andarranged in alignment with the sleeves 43'.

"I'he use and operation of the portable tower is'as follows:

The tower has been described in the upstanding or operative-repositiom as shown in. Figure 1. While in this position, thev workman ascends the vtower by using the ladderfformed-by the rounds 45, and `standslupon :the platform formed-by the boards-53- and withinthe-ring 5I,` which,.for the lower Vthe platform ton the horizontal' orinoperative position shown in Figure 2. f-.Todo this; itis merely necessary to removeathenut 33=from-the bottom endof the stud 36:.and. disengage-othe v.lower end. ofthe-floating leggi' 4from theopeni-ng of thevbumper. i1.'- The entire" platform mayrthen :be swung vertically forwardly. and downwardly to the substantially horizontal-:positionfoffligure 2, and the tubular le'gsa35.and-.31fiwillfengcge in and beV supported by the semicircular sockets- 25 carri-edby rtheu forward bolster y 2-2 z-Duringlt-he lowering of the rtowery the -iloatingf leg! 21. E rnayebe held, in order to retard the downwardmovement of the tower- When the tower 34 isin thee-lowered, horizontal position, it may bertransported from place to place by the-truck, .andata-will easily pass under the usual overhead obstructionsfencountereda V"vllhe-top'rtower sect-ion46-may be adjustedvertically by engaging the bolts 49 in various-sets -oflthe-openings@ of:thelegs41. In'Figure 1-;the

upper `tower. section-:is shown in thevlowermost,

adjusted:- positionf. and the platform 4in thisrposiV- ltionyispreferably approximately 14,1/2: feet? above the ground, although this distance may' zvary. Through .adjustmenigfk .as previously described, I contemplate' bein-gable toraisethe platform ap'- proximately-:artadditionalV 5-feet from the. ground, The tower is extremely strong:.and.rigid;1\and very light, .consider-ing. its height and strength. It is very easy to manipulate andaw'ellcadapted to serve afvariety of. usefulpurposes. I

It is tobeurnierstood.thatdhefi'orm of my' in' vention herewith show-n"y and-describedfis` to; be taken as a preferred example of the'samefiand that variousfchangesin-shape;Y size and .arrangement of parts may be resortedito` withoutdepart'- fing-=from the-spiritof therfin-vention for theoscope of the subjoinedciaims.i-.1 l i.s f; .-1 l.

Having-thus` describedmy invention',- I claim:

1. A portable tower, comprising a wheeled support, forward and rear longitudinally spaced transverse bolsters mounted upon the wheeled support, a transverse bar mounted upon the wheeled support adjacent to and below the rear transverse bolster, an upstanding brace detachably connected with said transverse bar and extending above the same and having its top arranged substantially at the elevation of the rear transverse bolster and spaced rearwardly of such bolster, an upstanding triangular frame arranged above the rear bolster and upstanding brace and including forward legs pivotally connected with the rear bolster and a rear leg pivotally connected with the upstanding brace, a substantially horizontal platform secured to the top of the triangular frame, upstanding bars connected with the platform and projecting above the same,

and a ring secured to the upstanding bars near their tops and spaced above the platform, the arrangement being such that when the uptanding brace is disconnected from the transverse bar below the rear bolster the upstanding triangular frame and platform may be zwung downwardly as a unit for engagement upon the forward transverse bolster to be supported thereby in a substantially horizontal position.

2. A portable tower, comprising a wheeled support, forward and rear longitudinally spaced transverse holsters mounted upon the wheeled support, a rear transverse bar mounted upon the wheeled support substantially adjacent to the rear transverse bolster and spaced a substantial distance below the rear transverse bolster, an upstanding brace having its lower end detachably connected with said rear transverse bar and having its upper end arranged at substantially the elevation of the rear transverse bolster and spaced rearwardly thereof, a lower tower section including triangularly spaced tubular legs arranged above the rear bolster and upstanding brace, a pair of said tubular legs having their lower ends pivotally connected with the rear bolster, the other of said tubular legs having its lower end pivotally connected with the top of the upstanding brace, brace means extending between adjacent pairs of the tubular legs for rigidly connecting the same, an upper tower section including triangularly spaced substantially vertical bars telescopically engaging in the tops of the tubular legs, means connecting the triangularly spaced bars and tubular legs, whereby said upper tower section may be vertically adjusted, a horizontal platform carried by said upper tower section, and a ring mounted upon said upper tower section above said platform, the arrangement being such that when said upstanding brace is disconnected from said rear transverse bar the upper and lower tower sections may be lowered as a unit into engagement with the forward 'transverse bolster.

3. A portable tower, comprising a truck, forward and rear longitudinally spaced transverse bolsters mounted upon the truck, a rear bumper mounted upon the rear end of the truck below the rear bolster, an elongated upstanding floating leg having its lower end detachably connected with the bumper, the top end of the floating leg being arranged adjacent to and rearwardly of the rear bolster, upstanding brackets secured to the rear bolster near the opposite ends thereof and arranged substantially at the elevation of the top of the oating leg and spaced substantially equidistantly upon opposite sides of such leg, a lower upstanding tower section including triangularly spaced connected vertical tubes, the bottom ends of a pair of said tubes being pivotally connected with said brackets, the bottom end of the other tube being pivotally connected with the top of said floating leg, ladder means carried by a pair of said tubes, an upper tower section including triangularly spaced substantially vertical bars telescopically engaging within the triangularly spaced tubes of the lower tower section, means connecting the triangularly spaced bars and tubes and permitting vertical adjustment of the upper tower section, a substantially horizontal platform arranged between and connected with the triangularly spaced bars of the upper tower section, said triangularly spaced bars projecting above said platform, and an annular ring secured to the tops of the triangularly spaced bars and spaced above said platform and arranged in substantial vertical alignment therewith, the arrangement being such that the tower may be lowered to a substantially horizontal inoperative position wherein it is supported by the forward bolster when said upstanding floating leg is disconnected from said bumper.

4. An adjustable tower, comprising a lower substantially vertical tower section including triangularly spaced substantially vertical tubular legs, brace means connecting adjacent pairs of said tubular legs, ladder means secured to an adjacent pair of said tubular legs, an upper tower section mounted upon the lower tower section and including triangularly spaced generally Vertical bars telescopically engaging in the tops of said tubular legs, bolt means connecting said triangularly spaced bars and said tubular legs and permitting Vertical adjustment of said upper tower section, a substantially horizontal platform secured to said upper tower section above the tops of said tubular legs, said triangularly spaced bars extending above said platform and converging, and a substantially annular ring connected with the tops of said triangularly spaced bars and arranged above said platform.

. WILLIAM R. FLEMING, J R.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the `[ile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 967,803 Mercer Aug. 16, 1910 1,362,944 Kirby Dec. 21, 1920 1,953,390 Bosch Apr. 3, 1934 2,490,166 Arnouldv Dec. 6, 1949 

